Redefining apartments in Blackburn

Find out how Pace of Blackburn is elevating apartment living.

Located within 17km of Melbourne sits Blackburn, known for its family-friendly vibe, schools, recreational facilities and parklands. It is also where Pace Development Group have launched our latest development, Pace of Blackburn, a first of its kind for the neighbourhood.

In a nutshell, Blackburn is post-war homes on big blocks, with the demographic mainly comprised of older, established couples and families. Tertiary education in neighbouring suburbs of Burwood and Box Hill is encouraging younger people into the area, with 28% of people living in Blackburn attending a tertiary or technical institution. Young professionals make up a large portion of the demographic as well.

“Blackburn is where Mitcham was ten-years ago and the demographic is changing. Older generations are selling their houses and downsizing, while younger generations want to live amongst their peers and have access to a sense of community that Blackburn provides,” Managing Director of Pace Development Group, Shane Wilkinson says. “We’ve looked at how we can combine the two of those needs and create something unique at Pace of Blackburn.”

“We understand there’s a trend towards apartment living for multiple reasons – namely, affordability,” Wilkinson explains. “We also know purchasers want more than a house, they want a community and quality amenities – and that’s exactly what we’ve provided.” Pace of Blackburn is set to feature a lap and kids’ pool, BBQ, concierge, and private dining room that can be booked out for entertaining friends and family.

Pace of Blackburn aims to elevate the existing streetscape, with landscaped gardens to complement the tree-lined streets, surrounding parks and nature reserves that the suburb is synonymous with. “We’re looking to the future and know that sustainable, green living is a priority, as a result we’ve included it as a prominent design feature throughout,” Wilkinson added.

“This project will be the first of its kind for Blackburn,” says Wilkinson. The site has been selected for its proximity to Blackburn station just 400m away, Blackburn Primary School across the road and a nature reserve within walking distance.

Planning and Design Manager of Development Michael Holah says Pace of Blackburn is the definition of true urban renewal, set to benefit the immediate community and beyond. “We want to bring together a diverse bunch of people, from all cultures, occupations and ages. Pace of Blackburn means you can stay connected to community at every stage of life.”

An update to the original permit was recently approved, with a focus to redesign the existing façade. “It was important to us to get this right for the community. It’s now a project with greater urban sensitivity being developed for the surrounds,” Holah said when asked why Pace put so much care into the redesign. “If you look at two buildings that are both 10 levels and one is designed in glass and steel, it’s going to look infinitely larger than one that’s designed as a sensitive development response to the area.”

“Simply put, we thought we could do better – and that’s exactly what we’ve done with Pace of Blackburn.”